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Shakikhanovs' House, Sheki

White façade of Shakikhanovs' House with rows of shebeke lattice windows, a painted eave and a small fountain
Photo: Rüfət Həsənli, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
iTicket.AZ: 1–10 AZN by category; guides quote 5, 9 or 15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Daily 9:00–18:00
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Online tickets
iTicket.AZ QR ticket in the app or a paper one from city box offices, non-refundable
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Student ticket
Only for students enrolled in Azerbaijan (iTicket.AZ rule)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Closed
No weekly closing day — iTicket.AZ lists sessions every day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Photos inside
Not allowed, according to two guides; the façade and courtyard are fine
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
20–30 minutes for the house and courtyard
Address
21 Hikmet Alekberzade Street — old town, below and west of the fortress
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
41.20270, 47.19030YesGo MapGoogleApple
Getting there
From the Khan's Palace, ≈ 10–15 min downhill on foot; from the bus station, marshrutka to the caravanserai and a 10–15 min walk
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Payment
Bring manat cash; to pay by card, buy the ticket online on iTicket.AZ
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

18th centurybuilt in the second half of the century for relatives of the Shaki khans
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaiTicket.AZ description
Nizamiheroes of his Khamsa — Layli and Majnun, Khosrow and Shirin, the Seven Beauties — cover the main hall
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2019part of the UNESCO site Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's Palace (no. 1549)
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaUNESCO World Heritage Centre site documents
Angelswinged girls on the main-hall ceiling — a motif found in no other Sheki monument
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaVisit Silk Road
2 floorseach with three rooms and two small corridors
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
6 roomsplus 4 corridors, two staircases and two balconies
3 sourcesRussian WikipediaiTicket.AZAZERTAC
Shebekemulticoloured lattice windows on the façade; only the upper second-floor grilles are original
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaVisit Silk Road
Mud brickunfired clay walls keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaiTicket.AZ
2012–2013full restoration, November 2012 to August 2013
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaAZERTAC
Yukhari Bashthe state historical and architectural reserve the house belongs to
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia

Shakikhanovs' House tickets and opening hours

The Yukhari Bash reserve publishes no official price list. Tickets are sold through iTicket.AZ at 1–10 AZN depending on category — a QR ticket in the app, or a paper one from city box offices. They can't be refunded or exchanged, and the student rate is only for students enrolled in Azerbaijan.

What a foreign adult actually pays varies by source: 5 AZN in several English-language guides, 9 or 15 AZN in Russian tour listings. Treat it as unofficial and carry 10–15 AZN. The iTicket.AZ schedule shows the house open every day, 9:00–18:00, so aim to arrive by 17:30. It is a separate ticket from the Khan's Palace; we found no combined ticket on iTicket.AZ.

Payment: bring Azerbaijani manat in cash, in small notes. Visa and Mastercard work in Baku and in larger Sheki hotels, but small museums, marshrutkas and tea houses usually want cash. If you'd rather pay by card, buy the QR ticket on iTicket.AZ before you go.

Is Shakikhanovs' House worth it?

Yes, if you liked the Palace of the Shaki Khans and want more. The murals here are different — scenes from Nizami's poems, individual portraits, angels on the ceiling — and the rooms are usually quiet, because day-trip groups from Baku often skip it. Twenty minutes is enough, and it costs little.

It is not a reason to travel to Sheki on its own, and it is plainer outside than the Khan's Palace. If you only have an hour in Sheki, spend it on the palace and the fortress walls. With half a day, add this house on the walk down through the old town.

What the house is and who lived here

This is a palace-style house built in the second half of the 18th century for relatives of the Shaki khans; the iTicket.AZ description ties it to Mohammad Hussein Khan. It blends a local Sheki home with a palace: long, two storeys, three rooms per floor, mud-brick walls. Winter rooms with bukhari fireplaces are downstairs; the guest floor upstairs holds the best paintings.

After the khanate was abolished, the family's descendants kept living here until the house was left empty and fell into decay. It was restored between November 2012 and August 2013 and is now a museum within the Yukhari Bash reserve and the UNESCO-listed historic centre.

What to see inside

  • The upper main hall — heroes from Nizami's Khamsa painted like miniatures: Layli and Majnun, Khosrow and Shirin, the Seven Beauties.
  • The angel ceiling — winged girls on the plafond, a motif you won't see elsewhere in Sheki.
  • Mirrored stalactites along the top of the walls, with a ref shelf below for festive dishes.
  • The painted fireplace at the centre of the hall, framed by niches and built-in cabinets.
  • Flowers, animals and birds in vases inside the niches; the remaining walls carry a net-like pattern.
  • Shebeke windows — larger panels than at the Khan's Palace; only the grilles in the upper part of the second floor are original.
  • The courtyard — the white façade, painted eave and small fountain make the best outdoor photo.

Is this the Sheki Winter Palace?

Many maps and guides label it the Winter Palace, and OpenStreetMap calls it "Shakikhanov (Winter) Palace". There is some logic: the ground floor with fireplaces was the winter quarters, and the house was a year-round home for the khan's family.

The khans' actual winter palace stood inside Sheki Fortress and was demolished, with the rest of the court, by 1851. If locals look blank at "Winter Palace", ask for Şəkixanovların evi — the Shakikhanovs' house.

Shakikhanovs' House vs the Khan's Palace

Shakikhanovs' Houseyou are hereHome of the khans' descendantsSecond half of the 18th centuryOld town, outside the wallsNizami scenes, portraits, angels1–10 AZNDaily 9:00–18:00No (two guides)20–30 min
Palace of the Shaki KhansThe khans' summer residence1762 by tradition; 1789–1797 per the local chronicleInside the fortressHunts, battles, flowers in vases1–15 AZNDaily 9:00–18:00No30–45 min

Prices and hours from iTicket.AZ for November 2026; photo rules are unofficial. Only time for one? Pick the palace. Time for both? See the palace first and save this house for later.

How to get to Shakikhanovs' House

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Baku: bus or minibus from Baku International Bus Terminal (Avtovağzal) to Sheki bus station — about 5 hours. The nearest airport with regular flights is Baku (GYD); Gabala (GBB) is closer but has few flights.
  2. From Sheki bus station: a marshrutka up Mirza Fatali Akhundov Avenue to the Upper Caravanserai, or a taxi — about 10 minutes. Guides give routes 11, 12 and 17 from Teze Bazaar and 22 from near the Juma Mosque; treat the numbers as unofficial and ask the driver for "Karvansaray".
  3. From the caravanserai, turn west off the avenue into the old-town lanes towards Hikmet Alekberzade Street — about 10–15 minutes on foot.
  4. From the Khan's Palace: leave through the fortress gate, walk down Akhundov Avenue and turn into the old town — about 10–15 minutes, all downhill.
  5. Look for a white two-storey house with rows of shebeke behind a fence; the entrance is easy to miss between ordinary homes. Buy a ticket at the door or show your iTicket.AZ QR code.

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Sheki's palaces and khans' houses compared

Every palace in Sheki rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Sheki Fortress4440 minFree10 min walk
Palace of the Shaki Khans4145 min15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)11 min walk
Shakikhanovs' Houseyou are here4030 min1–10 AZN (iTicket.AZ)—

Both khans' palaces in half a day

The fortress and the Khan's Palace at the top, down to the caravanserai, then Shakikhanovs' House and a stroll through the old town. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Sheki Fortress40 min · Free; museums inside extra
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopPalace of the Shaki Khans45 min · 15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)
  3. 9 min walk from the previous stopUpper Caravanserai30 min · Courtyard free (unofficial)
  4. 6 min walk from the previous stopShakikhanovs' Houseyou are here30 min · 1–10 AZN (iTicket.AZ)
  5. 11 min walk from the previous stopSheki Old Town (Yukhari Bash)1 h 30 min · Free; museums on the way charge

5 places · about 4 h 24 min with walks · 29 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Upper Caravanserai

Sheki, Azerbaijan

30 min · Courtyard free (unofficial) · 6 min walk

Round Temple

Sheki, Azerbaijan

30 min · Free outside; museum fee not published · 10 min walk

Sheki Fortress

Sheki, Azerbaijan

40 min · Free; museums inside extra · 10 min walk

Sheki Old Town (Yukhari Bash)

Sheki, Azerbaijan

1 h 30 min · Free; museums on the way charge · 11 min walk

How to do it right

  • See the Palace of the Shaki Khans first — the differences in the murals here stand out more afterwards.
  • On the way down, step into the courtyard of the Upper Caravanserai; it is almost on your route.
  • Save the local name, Şəkixanovların evi, on your phone — the entrance is in a side lane with a small sign.
  • Don't come from Baku for this house alone; it is an add-on to the palace and the old town, not the main event.
  • Carry small manat notes — a tiny museum may not have change for a large one.
  • Note the price and hours posted at the door; official figures are hard to find online.

Questions

How much is the entrance fee to Shakikhanovs' House?

iTicket.AZ lists 1–10 AZN depending on category. Guides quote 5, 9 or 15 AZN for foreigners — unofficial figures, so bring 10–15 AZN in cash.

What are the Shakikhanovs' House opening hours?

Daily, 9:00–18:00, according to the iTicket.AZ schedule. There is no weekly closing day; arrive by 17:30.

Is Shakikhanovs' House worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoyed the Khan's Palace and want more murals — the scenes, portraits and angel ceiling are different, and it's quieter. With only an hour in Sheki, choose the palace.

Where is Shakikhanovs' House?

At 21 Hikmet Alekberzade Street in Sheki's old town, below and west of the fortress, outside the walls.

How do I walk from the Khan's Palace to Shakikhanovs' House?

Leave through the fortress gate, walk down Akhundov Avenue and turn west into the old town — about 10–15 minutes downhill.

How do I get there from Sheki bus station?

Take a marshrutka up Akhundov Avenue to the Upper Caravanserai, or a taxi — about 10 minutes — then walk 10–15 minutes. Route numbers differ between guides; ask the driver.

Can you take photos inside Shakikhanovs' House?

Two guides say no, as at the Khan's Palace. The façade and courtyard are fine; check with the attendant.

Is Shakikhanovs' House the Sheki Winter Palace?

It is often called that — its ground floor was the winter quarters. The khans' real winter palace stood inside the fortress and was demolished by 1851.

How long do you need at Shakikhanovs' House?

20–30 minutes. With the Khan's Palace, the fortress and the caravanserai, plan half a day.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • iTicket.AZ: Shakikhanov's house — description, address, prices and sessions, sale rules, 02.11.2026
  • iTicket.AZ: Sheki Khans’ Palace — prices and sessions for comparison, 02.11.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Shakikhanovs' Palace / Дом Шекихановых; Wikidata Q15039321
  • AZERTAC: report on the visit to the restored Shakikhanovs' House, August 2013
  • Visit Silk Road: Shekikhanovs’ House — location outside the walls, buses, surviving shebeke
  • Travel Melodies and Bucketlistly: Sheki travel guides — unofficial fee, hours and photo ban
  • Travel Cost Calculator: Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace — unofficial fee
  • OpenStreetMap: location of the house museum and Hikmet Alekberzade Street
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 02.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThere is no official Yukhari Bash reserve website with prices or hours. Hours, the absence of a closing day and the 1–10 AZN range come from the iTicket.AZ page (28 sessions from 3 to 30 November 2026, 09:00–18:00). The price for foreigners differs between sources — 5, 9 and 15 AZN — so all prices are marked as verifying. The photo ban comes from two independent guides and is not stated on the ticket page. Sources differ on the owner: relatives of the khans (Wikipedia) or Mohammad Hussein Khan (iTicket.AZ). Wikidata's coordinates almost match the Khan's Palace and look wrong; we placed the house using Russian Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap — outside the walls, about 650 m in a straight line from the palace. Walking times come from Visit Silk Road and our own map estimate. Marshrutka numbers are unofficial.

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